Certificate in Professional Studies - Deafblind Studies

The Certificate in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) course is based on the belief that all people living with deafblindness have a right to be supported by professionals who have the requisite knowledge and skills to provide high-quality service. It has been designed and developed by some of the most experienced practitioners and academics in the field of deafblindness and is enhanced by the inclusion of teaching materials created by those with lived experience of deafblindness.

The course aims to meet the requirements relating to the care and support of deafblind people under the Care Act 2014 (England) and the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014 (Wales).

What's covered in this course?

The course will cultivate your knowledge and skills to be able to develop, challenge and question contemporary practice in the context of supporting deafblind children and adults. You will develop an in-depth yet foundational knowledge of both congenital and acquired deafblindness. You will cover the definitions of the condition, its causes and the impact of the impairment, paying particular attention to the substantial diversity of the deafblind population. You will explore the impact of deafblindness on communication, movement, mobility and orientation, and consider how an understanding of this impact informs care and support provision. The course also covers relevant law and public policy, as it applies to deafblind people, their rights and their needs.

Why choose us?

1. The most experienced practitioners and academics in the field of deafblindness have pooled knowledge and resources to produce the best materials and teaching the field can offer, enhanced by the inclusion of material from those with lived experience of deafblindness.
2. You will gain the knowledge and skills required to meet statutory requirements and duties in England and Wales in relation to those with deafblindness.
3. The course draws on research material from across the world, especially the Nordic countries, USA and Canada, recognising the contributions these particular countries have made to the knowledge and evidence base in the field.
4. You will consider the particular needs of diverse groups of deafblind people, a population known to be highly heterogeneous.